U.S. Cancels Over 6,000 Student Visas in 2025 Amid National Security Crackdown
Trump administration targets visa holders over legal violations, alleged terrorism links, and pro-Palestine activism on U.S. campuses.
The U.S. State Department announced that President Donald Trump’s administration canceled more than 6,000 student visas in 2025, describing the move as part of a broader campaign to strengthen national security and tighten immigration controls.
According to official figures, about 4,000 visas were revoked due to legal violations, including assault, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and burglary. Between 200 and 300 visas were canceled under provisions related to “engaging in terrorist activities” or “links to terrorist organizations,” as outlined in the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual.
The department did not specify the names of the groups students were accused of supporting. However, U.S. officials indicated that some cases were connected to pro-Palestine demonstrations amid the Gaza war.
New Screening Policies
This year, the State Department issued guidance urging U.S. diplomats to exercise caution when assessing applicants deemed “hostile to the United States” or those with a history of political activism. Student visa applicants were also required to make their social media accounts public during background checks, or risk being flagged for concealing suspicious activity.
Rising Tensions With U.S. Universities
These measures coincided with escalating tensions between the Trump administration and several major American universities, following widespread pro-Palestine student protests. Trump accused institutions such as Harvard University of becoming “strongholds of antisemitism” and threatened to revoke their tax exemptions while freezing millions of dollars in federal research funding.
A Notable Incident
In a widely publicized case, a Turkish student at Tufts University was detained for more than six weeks at an immigration detention center after co-authoring an opinion piece criticizing her university’s stance on the Gaza war. She was later released on bail after judicial intervention.
Criticism and Free Speech Concerns
Critics condemned the administration’s actions as an attack on free expression, protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. They warned that the new policy places international students under unprecedented political surveillance and risks undermining the reputation of U.S. universities as global centers of education and academic freedom.
